Antiviral activity of Α-hydroxytropolones on caprine alphaherpesvirus 1 in vitro. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lanave, Gianvito; Martella, Vito; Tempesta, Maria; Catella, Cristiana; Murelli, Ryan P.; Morrison, Lynda A.; Lucente, Maria Stella; Buonavoglia, Canio; Camero, Michele
• Is Part Of: Research in veterinary science. Volume 129(2020)
• Page Start: 99
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: CpHV-1 -- α-hydroxytropolones -- Alphaherpesviruses -- Antivirals; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine vétérinaire -- Périodiques; Médecine vétérinaire -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Diergeneeskunde; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.01.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-5288

Abstract

Abstract: The emergence of human alphaherpesvirus strains (i.e. HHV-1 and -2) resistant to commonly used antiviral drugs has prompted the research for alternative, biologically active anti-herpetic agents. Natural-product and synthetic α-hydroxytropolones (αHTs) have been identified as lead therapeutic agents for a number of infections, including HHV-1 and -2, and several veterinary herpesviruses, i.e. bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1), equine alphaherpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) and feline alphaherpesvirus 1 (FHV-1). In the present study we evaluated the activity in vitro of two natural and two synthetic α-hydroxytropolones (αHTs) against Caprine alphaherpesvirus 1 (CpHV-1) which is regarded as a useful homologous animal model for the study of HSV-2 infection, chiefly for the assessment of antiviral drugs in in vivo studies. AlphaHTs were able to decrease significantly CpHV-1 viral titres up to 4.25 log10 TCID50 /50 μl and suppressed extensively CpHV-1 nucleic acids up to 8.71 log10 viral DNA copy number/10 μl. This study demonstrated the efficacy of αHTs against CpHV-1 in vitro, adding to their activity observed against the human and animal alphaherpesviruses in vitro. The activity of αHTs against CpHV-1 appeared similar but not identical to the patterns of activity observed against other alphaherpesviruses, suggesting virus-related variability in terms of response to specific αHT molecules. These findings open several perspectives in terms of future studies using the CpHV-1 homologous animal model, for the development of therapeutic tools against herpesviruses. Highlights: AlphaHTs recently proved to have potent activity against human alphaherpesviruses. Inhibitory activity of α-HTs against CpHV-1 was evaluated in vitro. AlphaHTs decreased CpHV-1 replication and DNA copies. In vivo experiments will be useful to assess efficacy of α-HTs against CpHV-1.